DPS shows crime rate down at 'U'

an DPS cites Community-Oriented Policing program as major reason

By Reilly Brennan
Daily Staff Reporter

Despite a shocking murder that took place on campus this past September, the Department of Public Safety's is reporting an overall decline in the number of crimes reported during 1997.

"We're working hard to do all we can to maintain a safe environment on campus," said DPS spokesperson Beth Hall.

While the overall number of reported crimes decreased, 1997 was a year of more reports of aggravated assault, murder, forced rape and robbery. But DPS reported a significant drop in burglaries, arson, sexual assault with an object and forcible fondling.

DPS, which polices the campus, cites its new Community-Oriented Policing program as a major factor in the crime abatement in 1997.

The program, which assigns two officers to a certain area of campus, is not only a factor in the overall decline in crimes on campus, but more specifically the drastic drop in reports of larceny, Hall said. DPS reported 1,822 incidents of larceny in 1996 and just 1,454 in 1997 - a drop of more than 20 percent.

"We're very pleased to see the drop in personal property," Hall said, "and I think it can be attributed to our Community-Oriented Policing program."

LSA Junior Jillian Gross, a member of Safewalk, the University's student-run safety escort service, said the number of calls the service receives this time of year has been as high as usual.

"It gets pretty high around the time of finals and midterms because people are out late studying in libraries," Gross said. "I usually get five to six calls during my shift from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m."

The number of calls Safewalk received this past year reflects a feeling of safety among students. In 1997, Safewalk received 1,090 calls for walks in 1996 and 795 in 1997.

LSA sophomore Lisa Manasse said she has noticed a decrease in crime on campus since her first year at the University. But this has not compromised her concern for safety, as she makes sure she and her friends never travel alone at night.

"I have noticed a lot less crime going on this year," Manasse said. "But I'm a big stickler for making sure my friends never walk home alone."

Larceny still remains the biggest problem with which DPS deals, accounting for more than 90 percent of the department's reported crimes.

02-27-98